Metallic-door structure



Dec. 15. 1925- J. LEDWINKA METALLIC DOOR STRUCTURE Filed July 51. 1920 r; Sheets-Sheet 1 liven/tow; Witness Jbse p71 [10((101'? ma,

Dec. 15, 1925 1,565,743

J. LEDWINKA MSTALLI C DOOR STRUCTURE Filed July 31, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 min/es! I rwenipi V 6 Ja/Mle- Jbsephfiedwqwis J. LEDWIN KA METALLIC DOOR STRUCTURE Filed July 31, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

: a x i l atented l5,

UNITED STATES PAT .rosnrn LEDWINKA,

ZBUDD mura'crunme ENT OFFICE. v

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I'OBA'IION' or PENNSY VANIA.

xE'rALnc-noon srnuc'runn Application filed July 81, 1920. Serial No. 400,399.

To all'wlzom it may concern:

Be t known that I, Josnrrr LEDWINKA,

residing at 725th Park Avenue, have invented Street and Huntington Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, certain-new and useful Improvements in Metallic-Door Structures, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in metallic door structures.

lates particularly to metallic doors for motor My invention reconstruction of vehicles, and to the the means for mounting a curtain rod socket in such doors,

jacent the hinges.

and also the means for mounting the hinges and reinforcing the door ad-- One of the objects of my invention is to provide means for mounting a curtain rod socket in an all-metal door.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel and efiicient the door and for the door adjacent the means for mounting the hinges on stiffening and reinforcing hinges.

Furtherobjects, and objects relating to economics of material and details of will definitely appear from the struction, detailed description to the objects of follow. Iaccomplish my invention by thedevices and. means set forth in the following specification. pointed A structure,

My invention is clearly defined and out in the appended claims.

constituting a preferred enihodiiiient of my invention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawmgaiormmg a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. I is a view in side elevation of a door in accordance with my invenconstructed tion.

Fig II a5 top plan view of the door, a

portion being features of the constr Fig. III is a detail,

broken away to show certain iction.

sectional view, taken substantiallyon the line III-@III of Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a iibstantially 0] lctail sectional view, taken the l we Iv -IV of Fig. III.

Fig. V is a fragmentary view in side ele vation, takcnsuhstantially on the line V-V of Fig. IV. i

Fig. VI. is a dctailperspectivc view of orie member of the holder.

curtain rod socket substantially on the line XX COH- Fi .V II is a erspective view of the other mein r of the iiolder. 1 Fig. lV III is a view in side elevation of the curtain rod socket.

Fig. IX is a detail, sectional view through a portionof the door at one end near one lot the hinges, the hinge being shown in full mes.

Fig. X is a detail, sectional view-taken of Fig. IX. In the rawings, similar reference numerals refer .to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows atthe ends of the section lines.

In many types of automobiles, it is cuss tomary to provide, the doot, a socket upright curtain rod, above the door will it is opened. This curtain arrangement is becoming standard practise on'inany of the ecent models with the result that it has been necessary to provide a socket in the door to receive this curtain rod.' The curtain rod is, as a rule, inclined upwardly at a slight angle, so that itsupper end will lie outside the edge of the top. This requires that the curtain. rod socket be disposedin the door at a slight angle lZO lJlIG gGHGI'LlI plane of the door.

In the construction of'motor vehicle doors in the upper portion of which is to receive an so that the side curtain comma-r, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A. con

move with the door, as

in which the metal panel is mounted on a wooden frame, it was a comparatively easy matter to bore a hole in the frame at the required angle and to insert the socket in such hole. In all-metal doors, however, We have no such frames and it has been necessary to devise means for mounting the socket in the chamber formed between the inner and outer panelsof the door.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to the curtain rod support in an all. metal door which is simple in structure, economical to manufacture, easy to ap ly in theconstruction of the door, and e cient in operation, and. which mounting is composed of suitable sheet metal stain ings so formed or shaped as to support the curtain rod in the desired position of vertical inclination, and

provide a mounting for i in carrying out the objects and purposes of my invention I propose to mount the curtain rod support in the chamber or space between the sheet metal panels of the door structure. The, curtain rod support may he constructedv in many different ways and mounted or supported within the space or chamber between the door panels in various ways. I have shown one structure of support composed of sheet metal stampings which is simple and ellicient, and I have shown one arrangement. for mounting the same which has proved satisfactory, but my invention in its broadest scope is not tobe limited or restricted in respect to the details of structure of the support or holder, nor in respect to the details of mounting of the support or holder.

In constructing the holder. in accordance 'ith my invention. and in one form of embodimcnt therco'l, I employ two metal stampings so formed that when they are assembled together they constitute a holder to receive and support a socket member in which the curtain rod is rccived, the socket member being mainlained at the desired vertical angle.

'lhc curtain rod is supported at its lower end in a socket member shown in detail in Fig. VIII, and comprises a. rectangular shaped lower portion 38 having openings through one of the side walls thereof as indicated at 39. The upper portion 40 of the socket member is shown in this instance ascvlindrical in form, and when in use the lower end of the curtain rod is slipped into this socket member. The mounting for the socket member in accordance with my invention is composed of the metal stampings, one form of which is shown respectively in Figs. VI and. VII. The stamping shown in Fig. VI designated generally by reference numeral Q-l. is shaped to form the walls 28 and 27 in angular relation with respect to each other, the wall '28 being vertically inclined so as to maintain the socket member above referred to in the desired angle of vertical in-'-lination. The other star iping oi the holder is formed with the walls or portions I); ill. in angular l -lation with respccl. to each other. When the two stampvlugs composing the holder are assembled and suitably secured together they cooperate to term a space between them which conforms to the cross-sectional outline of the shank portion 38 of the socket member to receive said socket member therein, and hold the same in proper position and inclination to receive and support the curtain rod. The two stampings composing the holder may be secured together in as scmhled relation in any suitable or converr ient manner. A simple arrangement is shown wherein one edge of one of the stampings is'formed with a flange 36 to be "to by spot welding or otherwise. T he opposite edge of said first mentioned stamping, in the form shown, is provided with tongues 37, arranged to be inserted through openings 29 in the portion or wall 28 of stamping 24, and to be clinched over against the outer surface of said portion 28, as clearly shown in Fig. III, thereby elficiently se curing the two stampings together. Of course the stampings may be secured together in many other different ways.

The holder constructed features, as above described, may be mount ed within the space between the door panels in any suitable or convenient manner. In the drawings I have shown an all metal door structure, including the outer and in ner panels l0, 12. In constructing the door these panels are suitably formed and connected together to afford a space or chamber thercbetwccu. The holder for the socket member above described is mounted. in accordance with my invention, in any suitable or convenient manner within this space or chamber. In the particular form shown, lo which, however, my invention is not to be limited or restricted, I mount the "socket holder upon the inner panel 12 of the door, and {or this purpose one edge of the stamping fit is flanged as at 25 to be received agairtst the inner wall or surface of the panel 12, and to be secured thereto by riveting qa otherwise as indicated 3.133 26. The otherizcdge portion .30 of the stamping 24 is shown as received against a shou tder portion 31 formed in the edge of the door panel 12, and is secured thereto by rivets or otherwise as indicated at As above indicated, the panels 10, 12 may be joined together at their edges inoffset relation with respect to each other in any suitable or convenient manner. One arrangement isshown wherein the edge of the outer panel 10 is formed with a head 11 and is flanged over the edge 15 of the inner panel 12 as indicated at 16. Any suitable means may be provided for fastening the socket member when seated within the socket or mounting above described. A simple arrangement. is shown wherein duo of the staiupings composing the holder is formed. with lugs or projections 35 adapted to snap or spring into thc'holcs 39 of the socket member when the latter is forced home into the support. the resiliency of the parts perin its essential mitting this action to be accomplished. The

to is provided. The head 17 lndicated at 13 tions, and in upper edge portion of the of the door to form a channel in icated at portions indicated at 22 by outwardly bent 18 and 21 respectively. A. tacking strip, not shownyfor the lining or upholstery for the inner surface of the door to be secured there'- and the flange portions 18, 21.0f the door course perforatedor for ned with openings to receive the 11 per ortion 40 of the socket member theret roug i, and to permit the curtain rod to be inserted into the socket member through an opening in the rail or bead portion 17.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I'provide an exceedingly simple and effective socket holder structure or mounting for an all metal door wherein such mounting. is disposed wholly within the space or chamber between the panels composing the door and is supported in such disposition, and wherein-the socket member is'reoeived and fastened in the holder, all of the parts of said holder being concealed within said space or chamben I e If desired, the door, as usual,' may be equipped with the usual door latch or bolt indicated generally at 23,, and also the inner panel 12, if desired, may be stamped out as to form the usual door pocket or receptacle. These features, how ever, are not essential to my present invention.

It has heretofore been a common practice of the art to attach the hinge straps of metallic door structures to one or the other of,

the sheet 'metal panelscomposing the door, and to out openings through the edge flanges of thepanel 'to permit the hinge strap to extend outwardly thercthrough. tice is objectionable for the reason that when the doors are subjected, to the rough usage of slamming and resulting shock and jar, the dangerisincurred o'l' inarripg or distorting the door panel to the surf ce of which the hinge straps are secured, a id, in addition, by cutting openings in the edge flange ol' the door panel through width the hinge straps project the panel is weakened and at a point where it: requires strength and rigidity in order to enable. the door structure to withstand the shocks and jars incident to slamming of the doors. It among the special purposes of my present invention to provide a mounting for the hinge stra s for sheet metal automobile doors whic avoids these and other objec accordance with my invention I propose to employ a reinforcing stamping or member to which the hinge stra s are secured, and to apply such rein orcing panels are of inner surface of the panel ,12.

This practo one of the door r, a stamping or member shocks and ars panels, thereby enabling the .of the door to be taken by the auxiliary reinforcing plate or stamping and relievin the door panel itsclt of the resulting strains.

I propose to cn'iploy the auxiliary stamping upon which the hinge straps are mounted to reinforce the edge flange of the door panel to which the stamping strap'carrying the hinge straps is secured at the points where such edge flange is weakened or opci'iin'gs formed therein for the hinge straps to pass through. I Many-specifically diifercnt structures may be employed to embody the features above described. I have shown one arrangement wherein a reinforcing stamping indicated at 45s. secured by spot weldingor otherwise as i ndir ated at 46, see 'Fig. X, to the inner surface of the inner door panel 12 adjacent its hinge edge. At the points where the hinge straps are to besccured portions 49 of the reinforcing plate are pressed outwardly so as to acc0mmodate the shank portions orbutts 44 of the hinge straps -12 between such pressed by the holes out portions of the reinforcing plate and the p The shank. .or butts 4d; are fastened or secured to the pressed out portions 4-9 of the reinforcing pla iilby bolts, rivets or otherwise, as indicator at 54. The reinforcing plate, as indipated in Fig. I, extends for the larger ortron 'of the vertical dimension ofthe (oor panel 12 and is secured to the inner surface of said panel at various points throughout its Hearingthereagainst, thus distributing any strains which may be imparted to the panel through its hinge supports, and since the hinge butts or shanks are supported u )on and secured tothe pressed out )ortions oi the reinforcing stamping or .plate the door panel itself is largely relieved of the strains,and hence nui-rring or distortion of the door panel is reduced, it not prevented. The outer edge of the reinforcing plate 45 is flanged as indicated at 47, and lies against and is secured to the flange H- of the door panel. Both the door panel flange (and the flange of the rein forcing plate are lt'ornicd with openings indicated at 4-1 and 48 through which the shank or butt portions of the hinge straps 42 extend, but th reinforcement of the door panel flange ail'ordcd b the lhingeof the reinforcing plate strengthens the door panel flange whereit'fvvouldi understood that: mw'

- stamping to "Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a. metallic door structure,'the combination of inner and outer panels having their edges secured together and their body portions ofi'sct to form a chamber therebetween, a socket holder including); a stamping, having two walls extending at right angles to each other, one of said walls being l'ufI their eges secured together and theirluody portions offset to form a chamber there betwecn, a member fastened to the inner Y panel and having two wall portions at right angles to each other, a member mounted on said firstmamed member and having wall portions at right angles to each othe and to the corresponding portions of said first named member, said members together forming a socket holder, and a socket mounted in said holder,

3. In a metallic door structure, the combination with inner and outer pan sls having their edges secured together and their body portions offset to form a chamber therebctween, of: a holder member mounted on the inner panel, and disposed. within said chamber, said member having slotstherein, and a keeper member having: tongues disposed in said slots and bent over to secure said members together, a curtain rod socket said holder and keeper members co-operatin o; to form a support within said chamber for the said curtain rod socket.

4. In a metallic door structure, the combination. with inner and outer panels having their edges secured together and their bodv portions otlsct to form a chamber therebetween, at a socket holder having; a struck up portion projecting inwardly from the wall. thereof. a curtain rod socket. mounted in said holder, and provided with an opening to receive said struck up portion, and means to support said socket holder upon the inner panel at the door and within said chamber.

in amotallic door structure. the combination with an inner and outer sheet metal panels having their edges secured together and their body portions oiiset to form a chamber therebetween, one 0" sa d panels having a flange at its upper edge to form a moulding for the upper edge of the door, said flange having an opening therethrough;

of a holder disposed within said chamber in line with said opening, and a curtain rod socket insertable through said opening and into said holder, and means carried by said holder and engaging said socket to retain the same when in place in said holder..

6. In a metallic door structure, in combination with inner and outer sheet metal door panels having their edges secured tonether and their body portions ofi'set to form a. chamber therebetween, of angle members disposed within said chamber having pairs of long and short branch members, the long branch members being secured toone end of said door panels at their outer ends and the short branch members being secured to said loin, branch members intermediate the ends thereof whereby to form a holder for a curtain rod.

7. In a metallic door structure, the combination with inner and outer sheet metal panels having their edges secured together and their body portions offset to form a chamber there etwcen. of angle members located within said chamber, one of said angle members having branches of greater length than the other of said angle members whereby said first mentioned angle member may be attached to one of said sheet metal panels with the second mentioned angle member secured to said first mentioned angle member intermediate the ends thereof to form a holder spaced from said panels.

8. In a metallic door structure, in com-' bination, innerand outer sheet metal door anels having their edges secured together and their body portions offset to form a chamber therebetween, a stamping disposed within said chamber provided with branches secured at the outer ends thereof to one of said panels, and a second stamping joining: said branches intermediate their ends and cooperating with said first mentioned stamping to constitute-a holder for a curtain rod.

9. In a curtain rod supporting structure, a plurality of stampings cooperating when assembled together to form a-holder, a curtain rod socket seated in said holder, and cooperating means on said holder and said socket to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

10. In a curtain rod supporting structure, a holder, a curtain rod socket seated in said holder, and means in said holder and said socket adapted to be sprung into coop erative engagement whereby to preventrelativc rotation between said holder and socket.

11. In a'metallic. door structure, the combination with inner and outer sheet metal pane-ls having their edges secured together and their body portions offset to term a chamber thcrebctween, one of said panels having; a flange at its upper edge to form the upper edge of the door, saidiflange having an opening therethrough, of a holder disposed within said chamber and a curtain rod socket insertable through said opening into said holder and means on said holder and 12. I11 a metallic door structure, in combination with inner and outer sheet metal 10 panels having Ind their bod chamber there their edges secured together portions offset to form atween, one of said panels having a flange at its upper edge to form the upper edge of the door, said flange having an opening therethrough, of an expansible holder disposed within said chamber, and a curtain rod socket insertable through-said opening and into said holder, said socket having means engageahle by said expansible socket to prevent its withdrawal therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

JOSEPH LEDWINK'A. 

